Jocoy

MUHL5333 / Fall 2009

Oliver Cromwell

Left: Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell (c. 1653); Right: Commonwealth

Coat of Arms (1649-1660)

Biography: (1599-1658; “reign”: 1650-1658) English military and political leader best known
for his involvement in making England into a republican Commonwealth and for his later role as
Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland. He was one of the commanders of the New
Model Army that defeated the royalists in the English Civil War. After the execution of King
Charles I in 1649, Cromwell dominated the short-lived Commonwealth of England, conquered
Ireland and Scotland, and ruled as Lord Protector from 1653 until his death in 1658.

Artistic Connections: Although Cromwell is best known as the ruler who helped the Protestant
Reformation in England toward the destruction of music in churches (organs were removed &
destroyed) and the closure of the public theaters, Cromwell himself was very fond of music. He
used the singing of hymns as a way to control his men during marches and maintained several
composers and organists for his “court.” During the Commonwealth Cromwell attended musical
events, allowed for the beginning of English opera (Siege of Rhodes), and even ordered the
composition of a masque (Cupid and Death—music by Matthew Locke) for the visit of the
Portuguese ambassador. John Playford’s musical publishing house also flourished at this time.

Bibliography:
• Adamson, John. "Oliver Cromwell and the Long Parliament", in Morrill, John (ed.), Oliver
Cromwell and the English Revolution. New York: Longman Press , 1990.
• Clare, Janet. Drama of the English Republic, 1649–60. Manchester: Manchester University
Press, 2006.
• Morrill, John (1990). "Textualizing and Contextualizing Cromwell", in Historical Journal 1990
33(3): 629–639.